Cartridge-carrier.



FFIC EDWARD T. GIBSON, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

CARTRIDGE-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent 0. 667,082, dated January 29, 1901.

Application filed April 27, 1900. Serial No. 14,572. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD TINKHAM GIB- SON, a medical officer in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Harrison, in the county of Lewis and Clarke and State of Montana, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Cartridge-Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to provide a body-band having pockets or loops for carrying frames or cases of cartridges, which are so arranged on the said band in relation to each other that a large supply of ammunition can be carried, and, further, to provide a body-band for carrying cartridges to be worn suspended across the body from the left shoulder as a bandoleer and admit of the portions on the front of the soldiers body being brought to an angle with each other and in that position retained to admit of the soldier extracting the ammunition with greater ease and rapidity than is possible with ban doleers with which I am acquainted.

The invention has forfurther objects other improvements; and it consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the band oleer-band. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bandoleer-band provided with loops or pockets for holding cartridges put up in frames or cases and shows the bandoleer in the shape that it assumes when it is supported across the body from the left shoulder and has its .two portions on the front of the body brought to an angle with each other; and Fig. 3 illustrates the bandoleer in use.

The body-band of my improved cartridgecarrier is in the form of a bandoleer provided on its outer side with means for holding cartridges and which, as shown, consists of two separate pieces A and B, Fig. 1, of equal length, which at their extremities are pivotally attached to each other by the pivots O and D to admit of the bandoleer when on the body being made to assume the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the portion A is suspended downward from the left shoulder of the wearer in a nearly-vertical position on the front of the wearer,while the portion 13 extends horizontally to the right across the front of the body and the portion B extends diagonally upward and to the left on the back of the body to its pivotal connection with the extremity of the portion A which is suspended from the left shoulder diagonally to the right on the back of the body. As the length of the portion B is the same as that of A, it will be seen that if the pivot D is brought to the position formerly occupied by O the half of the bandoleer that was at the back of the body will be brought to the front of the body and the portions B and A will assume the same angular position to each other as was assumed by the portions A and B By this construction of the bandoleer it does not tend to slide off the shoulder and the ammunition is supported in a position on the front of the soldiers body, in which it can be more readily gotten at by the fingers of the right hand and more expeditiously extracted than is the case with bandoleers with which I am acquainted.

Pivotally attached between the surfaces of the portions A and B, Fig. 1, to the pivot O is a strip 0, having a stanchion O and to the pivot D a strip D, having a stanchion D When the said bandoleer is suspended from the left shoulder, the two portions A and B Fig. 2, on the front of the soldiers body are brought to an angle with each other by fastening the said stanchion C in one of the holes V in a strap V, having a loop end V which loop is fastened over the waistbandtightening strap which exists at the back of all American soldiers trousers. This strap V is to be brought out from beneath the soldiers blouse and overcoat through a slit in the left-hand side seam of said garments. If desired, a straight downward pull may be given to the said strip 0 by a strap secured to the waist-belt or trousers-waistband of the soldier, or, if thought best, the strap V could be dispensed with and said strips (1 and D be elongated equally and their free extremities be detachably connected to each other on the left side of the soldiers chest. When the ammunition on the portions of the bandoleer on the front of the body is exhausted, the strap V is slipped off from the stanchion C and the bandoleer is turned to bring to the front of the body the balance of the ammunition and is there secured by attaching the strap V to the stanchion D The bandoleer may be shortened or lengthened by a suitable construction at the points A and B of the band.

Referring to Fig. 2, the body-band (bandoleer or belt) has the truncated right-angletriangle shaped packet-holding pockets R arranged crosswise on its horizontal portion, and in Fig. 3 I show the body-band provided with loops R. These loops and the bodyband may be woven in one piece, or the loops may be woven separately and then attached to the band, or the loops may be fashioned of leather.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A bandoleer for cartridge-carriers provided upon its outer side with means for holding cartridges, said bandoleer consisting of two halves pivoted together so it can be worn across the shoulder with the two portions 011 the front brought to an angle with each other with the point of the angle downward, and short straps or tabs connected with the ban doleer at its joints whereby it may be held at such points in the desired positions when in use substantially as set forth.

2. In a cartridge-carrier a body-band composed of two portions of approximately equal length pivotally attached to each other at both extremities, provided along its external surface with means for holding cartridges, and adapted to be worn suspended across the body from one shoulder and to admit of the two portions on the front of the body being brought to an angle with each other, With the point of the angle pointing downward.

3. In a cartridge-carrier a body-band composed of two portions of approximately equal length pivotally attached to each other at both extremities, provided along its external surface with means for holding cartridges, and adapted to be worn suspended across the body from one shoulder and to admit of the two portions on the front of the body being brought to an angle with each other by downward and backward traction applied to the two said portions at the point of their pivotal connection with each other on the front of the body.

4. In a cartridge-carrier a body-band adapted to be worn suspended across the back and front of the body from one shoulder and provided on its external surface with means for holding cartridges; said body-band having the extremity of the portion that descends upon the front of the body from the shoulder connected with the extremity of the portion that comes upon the front of the body from below the armpit of the opposite shoulder to admit of the two said portions being brought to an angle with each other for the purpose specified.

5. A cartridgecarrier comprising a band provided on its external surface with means for holding cartridges and constructed to be worn suspended from one shoulder with the two portions upon the front of the body arranged at an angle of approximately ninety degrees, the angle being near the waist-line and one leg of the angle extending nearly Vertically to the supporting-shoulder, and means in connection with the angle for retaining the band in position on the front of the body.

6. In a cartridge-carrier a body-band composed of two portions of approximately equal lengths connected together at both extremities provided on its exterior surface with means for holding cartridges and adapted to be worn suspended across the body from one shoulder to admit of the two portions on the front of the body being brought to an angle with each other with the point of the angle pointing downward.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD 'l. .lrIBSON.

\Vitnesses:

WALTER C. JONES, HARRY B. HORAN. 

